CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 235. 
The Institute have waiched with a double interest the prozress of the Victoria 
Bridge, not only as a work of the highest national importance, but also as 
closely associated with the name of Robert Stephenson: that renowned and 
much lamented enginecr, whom the Institute had the high honor to enroll 
amongst its members on the occasion of his visit to Canada, privr to the com- 
mencement of the great undertaking which has just been brought to so successful 
a completion. 
In the Victoria Bridge, Canadians must not culy feel that they possess one of 
the noblest monuments of engineering skill and science exis!ing on this continent ; 
but that also, by the compietion of this magnificent structure, a great highway has 
been opened, over which the trade and commerce not only of Canada, but of the 
furthest west, may at all times flow: uninterrupted by the natural obstacles which 
have heretofore opposed themselves for a large period of the year, to a free commu- 
nication with the sea-board. 
To the gentlemen whose names are so closely connected with this great work, 
the Council of the Institute desire now to express their sincere congratulations on 
the successful termination of their labours ; and they desire also by this resolution, 
to record in the archives of this Society (expressly establishe for the promotion 
of Science and Industry) the completion of the noble monument of Science and 
Mechanical skill which has this day been opened to the traffic of the Province. 
The Conneil further resolved that copies of the above resolution should be 
engrossed and transmitted to Messrs. Ross and Hodges. 
(Signed, ) G. W. ALLAN, President. 
Reply. Copy. MontrEat, 27th December, 1859. 
To the President and Council of the Canadian Institute, Toronto, 
Gentlemen,—We have the honor to acknowledge receipt of copies of Reso- 
lution passed at a special meeting of your Council, convened on the 19th instant, 
in which you congratulate us, as Engineer and Builder, on the completion of the 
Victoria Bridge, that day opened for public traffic. 
In returning you our thanks for the notice you have taken of ourselyes in con- 
nexion with the termination of our labors, a notice, which to us is more valuable, 
emanating from a Society established for the promotion of Science anil Industry, 
and numbering so many respected names amongst its members, we rejoice to think 
that the work with which our names hive been connected, is one which is so high- 
ly calculated to assist in developing the interests of a country for the prosperity 
of which our best wishes can never cease to be formed. 
And it is not only our present hope, but our confident betief, that the sacrifices 
which this Provinee has made with such enlightened foresizht in order to establish 
a great and ever open highway of communication betwixt the rising territories of 
the farthest west and the Atlantic sea board, wi!l in due time find a return eorres- 
ponding to the spirit in which that great enterprise was conceived, and the perse- 
verance with which the means have been found for bringing it to a successful 
eompletion. 
Amidst so much that is calculate! to afford satisfaction to all concerned, our 
pleasure is yet damped by the melancholy reflection, that the distinguished man to 
